New!
articles • book quests • news • library
reviews • podcast • gifts • archives
Crew manifest Faith statement FAQs
All author resources Lorehaven Guild Subscribe for free

A Crown of Chains
Reviews, Jan 27, 2023

The Magician’s Nephew Taught Me Christ’s Compassion in the Midst of Grief
Elijah David in Articles, Jan 26, 2023

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, Jan 25, 2023

Library

Find fantastical Christian novels

fantasy · sci-fi · and beyond
middle grade · young adult · grown-ups
All novels Search Add a novel
Silver Bounty, Victoria McCombs
A Sword for the Immerland King, F. W. Faller
Calor, J. J. Fisher
Once Upon A Ren Faire, A. C. Castillo
Exile, Loren G. Warnemuende
Aberration, Cathy McCrumb
The Truth Beyond the Lies, Kathleen Bird
Frost, Winter's Lonely Guardian, E. E. Rawls
Dream of Kings, Sharon Hinck
The Change, Bradley Caffee
Quest of Fire: Desperation, Brett Armstrong
Wishtress, Nadine Brandes
Flight, Kristen Young
The Deliverer, Jason William Karpf
Podcast

Get the Fantastical Truth podcast

Podcast sponsors | Subscribe links
Archives Feedback

146. How Did Animators Adapt The Wingfeather Saga For Streaming TV? | with Keith Lango
Fantastical Truth, Jan 24, 2023

145. How Did Edmund Spenser’s ‘The Faerie Queene’ Shape Christian Fantasy? | with Rebecca K. Reynolds
Fantastical Truth, Jan 17, 2023

144. Which Top Six Fantasy Franchises Gave Fans Grief in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 10, 2023

143. Which Top Ten Lorehaven Stories Proved Most Popular in 2022?
Fantastical Truth, Jan 6, 2023

142. What Christmas Gift ‘Tools, Not Toys’ Helped You Grow As a Person?
Fantastical Truth, Dec 20, 2022

141. Ten Years After ‘An Unexpected Journey,’ Must We Really Hate The Hobbit Films? | with Rilian of NarniaWeb
Fantastical Truth, Dec 13, 2022

Quests

Join our monthly digital book quests.

Lorehaven Guild Faith statement FAQs

Rose Petals and Snowflakes
Book Quests, January 2023

Prince Caspian
Book Quests, January 2023

Dream of Kings
Book Quests, December 2022

On the Edge of the Dark Sea of Darkness
Book Quests, November 2022

Reviews

Find fantastical Christian reviews

All reviews Request review

A Crown of Chains
“A Crown of Chains creatively retells a biblical tale to explore themes of providence, racism, faith, and fidelity.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 27, 2023

Lander’s Legacy
“Lander’s Legacy stacks modern thrills and complex characters on a foundation of biblical what-ifs.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 20, 2023

Prince Caspian
“Pacing starts slow but creature lore grows in C. S. Lewis’s sequel, introducing practical tyrants and talking-beast politics into a Narnian resistance.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe
“New and returning readers of all ages would do well to seek deeper magic within C. S. Lewis’s faithful classic.”
—Lorehaven on Jan 13, 2023

Gifts

Find new gifts for Christian fans

Archives

The original SpecFaith: est. 2006

Speculative Faith | archives

Lorehaven issues (2018–2020)

Order back issues online!
About
Library
Reviews
Podcast
Gifts
Guild
Archives
SpecFaith
Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
Subscribe free to Lorehaven
/ Podcast
    Podcast sponsors • Previous sponsors • Subscribe links • Sponsor the show

    1. Sky Turtle Press

    2. The Katrosi Revolution series by Jamie Foley

    3. The Pop Culture Parent

141. Ten Years After ‘An Unexpected Journey,’ Must We Really Hate The Hobbit Films? | with Rilian of NarniaWeb

“Rilian” of NarniaWeb returns to share frustration and appreciation for Peter Jackson’s The Hobbit series, whose first film debuted ten years ago.
Fantastical Truth on Dec 13, 2022 · Series: Christmas Magic · No comments

Podcast: Play in new window | Download (Duration: 1:26:07 — 80.2MB) | Embed

Some months ago, a certain other Lord of the Rings-ish TV show prompted some fans to say, “Now we’re really going to appreciate The Hobbit film trilogy!” But after that certain other show, we saw little appreciation. Mostly the fans wanted to criticize that certain other show. Some of us never stopped appreciating The Hobbit films. That’s why we feel so alone in a company of Dwarves who really seem to hate that series. Today our special guest returns for some friendly sparring about the trilogy, whose first film, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey, released ten years ago this week!

Subscribe to Lorehaven

articles • news • library • reviews • podcast • gifts • guild

Episode sponsors

  1. Enclave Publishing: Calor by J. J. Fischer
  2. The Gift of Dragons by Rachel A. Greco
  3. Infernal Fall by Bryan Timothy Mitchell

Explore the complete Podcast Sponsors page.

Talking Beasts: The Narnia PodcastReturning with ‘Rilian’ of NarniaWeb’s Talking Beasts podcast

  • Rilian and Stephen met on the NarniaWeb forum back in the mid-2000s.
  • Rilian’s podcast, also with GlumPuddle, is now known as Talking Beasts.
  • They explore Narnia books and films, interviewing scholars and actors.
  • For example, Samuel West and Ben Barnes, who have both played King Caspian.
  • In 2020, Rilian joined us to lament The Voyage of the Dawn Treader film.
  • In 2021, we also reminisced about The Fellowship of the Ring (2001).

1. How did we track The Hobbit films’ development?

2. What did we think about An Unexpected Journey?

3. Do fans really hate The Hobbit parts 2 and 3?

Com station

  • People are still talking about when to play Christmas music, the best and worst.
  • Many more Guild heroes and other listeners had Christmas music takes.

In the Guild, Mr. Roboto clarified his position on one classic tune:

My list, mentioned in the podcast, was for Christmas music written by Jewish people. I’d like to make it very clear that I do not endorse “Santa Baby” or approve of any version of the song.

Similarly, “Jeremiah Was a Bullfrog” was the unfortunate choice of an Episcopal bishop for his investiture. He was easily persuaded that he could be “relevant” to the “coffee- house Christian set” by having a folk guitarist play “Stille Nacht” and sing it in German.

Fantasy author Catherine Jones Payne said:

Santa Baby is the worst and it’s not close.

Andy Sheehan observed:

Last Christmas by Wham! is a violation of the Geneva Convention.

Sarah Daniels said:

Worst? And so This is Christmas by John Lennon. One of the most depressing songs ever. Best? Tough call, but I’d have to say for me it’s a split between The Christmas Song by Nat King Cole and Christmas Time is Here from The Charlie Brown Christmas special. I myself like to wait until Thanksgiving to play Christmas music…otherwise I get burnt out on it.

Karl D. Swenson added:

Easy one: Santa Claus is coming to town by Bruce Springsteen makes me cringe every time. . . .

“HEY MAN! YOU GUYS ALL-YOU GUYS ALL BEEN GOOD THIS YEAR?”

*CROWD RESPONSE*

“AAAW THATS NOT MANY NOT MANY…”

Lorehaven mission log

  • Josiah’s article last week: How to Discern Moral Christian Fiction Without Expecting Sermons
  • The Gift of Dragons review last week
  • Power Play review this Friday (link will go live then)

Next on Fantastical Truth

We’re preparing for the end of our 2022 podcast season. Between this year and the next, Zack and Stephen will enjoy a two-week break. First, however, we should open one last present. What’s inside? With all due respect for amazing toys, we’d like to talk about useful gifts we received but still remember years later. In the words of C. S. Lewis’s Father Christmas, which “tools, not toys” at Christmas helped you grow as a person?

Fantastical Truth
Fantastical Truth
Lorehaven

Explore the best Christian-made fantasy, sci-fi, and beyond, and apply these stories' meanings in the real world Jesus calls us to serve.

Apple PodcastsGoogle PodcastsSpotifyAndroidPandoraiHeartRadioStitcherBlubrryby EmailTuneInRSS

Share your thoughts with Fantastical Truth!

    Okay to quote from your comment in a future episode?

    YesNo

    Fantastical Truth
    In the Fantastical Truth podcast from Lorehaven, hosts E. Stephen Burnett and Zackary Russell explore fantastical stories for God's glory and apply their wonders to the real world Jesus calls us to serve.
    Website · Facebook · Twitter

    Share your fantastical feedback. Cancel reply

    Lorehaven magazine, spring 2020

    Wear the wonder:
    Get exclusive shirts and beyond

    Listen to Lorehaven’s podcast

    Authors and publishers:
    Reach new fans with Lorehaven

    Lorehaven helps Christian fans explore fantastical stories for Christ’s glory: fantasy, science fiction, and beyond. Articles, the library, reviews, podcasts, gifts, and the Lorehaven Guild community help fans discern and enjoy the best Christian-made fantastical stories, applying their meanings to the real world Jesus Christ calls us to serve. Subscribe free to get any updates you choose and to access the Lorehaven Guild.
    Website · Facebook · Instagram · Twitter